Wayne Rooney is likely to miss Manchester United's match against CSKA Moscow following the birth of his son. Photograph: Nigel French/Empics Sport

The England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen today gave birth to a baby boy. The child, who the couple have named Kai Wayne Rooney, was born at 2.20pm at Liverpool Women's Hospital, their spokesman said.

The spokesman added: "Mother and baby are both absolutely fine. Wayne and Coleen are thrilled with the wonderful addition to their family life."

Rooney, 24, was absent from training this morning amid rumours that the birth of the couple's first child was imminent, and the striker could now be excused from playing in United's Champions League match against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford tomorrow. Earlier, Sir Alex Ferguson had said he would wait for news from Rooney before deciding whether to play him. "It depends on the situation with his wife," Ferguson said.

News that Coleen, 23, was pregnant emerged earlier this year although rumours had regularly circulated since the couple's wedding on the Italian Riviera last summer.

In Welsh and Scottish, Kai means "keeper of the keys", while for people in Hawaii, Kai means the sea. In Maori it translates as food. It is an unusual choice among parents in the UK, coming 68th in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) top 100 monikers in 2008.